By Madeleine SutherlandRecord Staff WriterKerry Hart’s journey of business ownership began with a passion.“I liked sports,” he said. “I wanted to be involved in sports, so I figured to go into sporting goods sales.”Thirty-one years ago, Hart and his wife Donna did just that. They began a sports equipment shop in Warrenton that sold goods ranging from fishing poles to shoes. Hart’s destiny, however, was not realized until a year after his store opened its doors.“We found out quickly that I needed to go into printing because that’s where the need was. We grew from there,” Hart stated.Hart’s Sports Shop quickly became the primary sports and T-shirt printing business in the area and has worked with clients from across the state. This year, however, the couple made the choice to retire and sell their shop.“It’s time for us to retire,” said Kerry Hart. “We felt like we should and could. Then Rhonda and Matt and Mallory came along.”The Moores are the current owners of All About Signs and Shirts, another printing business in Warrenton that specializes in signs, T-shirts and promotional products. Their daughter, Mallory Smith, and son-in-law, Tom, also are a part of the business.The family purchased their company in 2014 from Donna Hampson, formerly known as Donna’s Signs. They were encouraged by the success of family members across the country to enter the advertising and printing business and were looking to get back to their small town roots.After a year in business, the Moores decided to add to their company even further after hearing that the Harts were looking to retire.“We have done well and we have grown,” said Rhonda Moore. “And then when this opportunity came up, we just thought it was a match made in heaven.”The Moores purchased Hart’s Sports Shop on June 29.“It is just the perfect scenario for us,” said Kerry Hart. “We could not expect any person better to come in the door and say, ‘Hey, are you interested in selling your stuff?’ I know they are going to do great and expand from where we took it.”Kerry and Donna Hart feel that their work in Hart’s Sports Shop over the past years will be well preserved by its new owners.“I just really think it is going to be a positive move for the whole town and area. All our customers seem to be staying with them and that’s important to us,” Hart stated.The Moores intend for the business to remain community- and family-oriented.“Our goal is to continue everything that they were doing,” said Mallory Smith. “They have done well, so why change anything?”In addition to preserving tradition, the Moores also are keeping on Hart’s Sports Shop’s most dedicated employee, Corey Hart. Hart has worked for his parents’ business for the past 21 years and has chosen to stay on with the Moores to help them learn the ropes.“I know who likes what a certain way,” said Corey Hart. “Some people want their shirts printed this way, others that way. I know what they want and we do the best we can to make it look perfect.”The former Hart’s Sports Shop is located at 1040 E. Veterans Memorial Parkway. All About Signs and Shirts is located at 801 Louis Ave.The Moore family has been operating at both their original All About Signs and Shirts location and at the former Hart’s location since the company changed hands. They intend to eventually house their business under one roof, but are waiting for the perfect scenario to come along.“What we feel we are going to be able to add is just a complete advertising venue for this community,” said Rhonda Moore. “People are so busy these days that it’s going to make it really convenient for them to be able to just deal with one person that can meet all those advertising needs.”All About Signs and Shirts will add uniform, trophy and plaque production, as well as screen printing, heat pressing and embroidery to their existing business. They also will continue to honor the precedent set forth by Hart’s Sports Shop that if something is not made the right way, they will fix it.“The thing I always told all the people that came in the door was really simple: if we mess up, we fix it. I already see that Mallory and Rhonda and Matt are the same,” said Kerry Hart.After buying All About Signs and Shirts a year ago and purchasing Hart’s, the Moores are excited about incorporating the histories of two local businesses.“We’re combining two businesses that have been in business for over 30 years and I think that is huge,” said Rhonda Moore.Hart’s Sports Shop was sold on June 29 to Matt and Rhonda Moore, the current owners of All About Signs and Shirts in Warrenton. Pictured, from left, are Corey Hart, previous owners Kerry Hart and Donna Hart, current owner Rhonda Moore and daughter Mallory Smith. Madeleine Sutherland photo.
